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Disciples of Christ: Pastor Bill Carson & Cindy Carson

Couple to retire after 20 years serving church

By CARIE CANTERBURY canterburyc@ cañoncitydailyrecord.com

Posted:
06/22/2012 08:19:58 AM MDT

Pastor Bill and Cindy Carson will retire this Sunday after 20 years of service at First Christian Church â “ Disciples of Christ. A retirement reception for the couple is planned from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the church, 320 N. 16th St., in the fellowship hall. (Carie Canterbury/Daily Record)

When Pastor Bill Carson of First Christian Church -Disciples of Christ - was asked more than 20 years ago if he would be interested in pastoring the Cañon City congregation, he did not hesitate in the response.

His answer was a plain and simple "no."

Carson and his wife, Cindy, were living in Fowler at the time, raising a family and pastoring a church there. After a second inquiry from the Cañon City church's search team, the Carsons decided that maybe it was a season for change.

"We prayed about coming here, and after we prayed, we felt that maybe God was opening a doorway for a possible change He was getting ready to call us to," Carson said.

Carson's first sermon at First Christian Church was on Father's Day of 1992.

Fast-forward 20 years and now Carson is preparing to preach his last message at the pulpit as pastor on Sunday before he retires.

"This is a church with a lot of love and a lot of openness and friendliness," he said. "I'll miss the people that have allowed me to be their shepherd and pastor."

Most of the church members who welcomed the Carsons 20 years ago have passed away or now live in nursing facilities, he said, but attendance and membership have maintained. There are about 220 active members and friends of the church.

In the last 20 years, the church has added a Sunday evening contemporary celebration service and a youth pastor was brought on board a few years ago.

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Cindy has been more than a "pastor's wife" through the years, she has truly been a help-mate, Carson said.

"It has been a calling from God," she said. "I have felt very privileged because we get to share in the deepest moments of people's lives -- we get to be there for their weddings, their deaths, their births, their birthday parties and ballgames."

Carson has served as a volunteer chaplain at St. Thomas More Hospital and Cindy has volunteered as a victim's advocate and also at the hospital. She also was employed as a home visitor with the First Steps Parents as Teachers through Starpoint and is wrapping up her job as a screener with Project ECHO.

The couple plans to remain in Cañon City, but they will travel across the country in their motorhome as working campers while also doing mission work wherever they are needed. They also plan to continue their involvement with the Emmaus Community and spend more time with their three grown children, four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Carson shared one final thought about retiring after 20 years as the church's leader.

"Church is not about the pastor, it's about serving God and living the faith," he said. "Family is family -- and God's family can never be broken."

A retirement reception for the couple is planned from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at First Christian Church, 320 N. 16th St., in the fellowship hall.

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